Hi SSMT partners! I’m Bailie – the newest and youngest member of the LPM staff.
A few weeks into my time here at LPM, I kept hearing the term “SSMT” being thrown around by my coworkers, and I wondered what on earth are they talking about? And when one of them explained, “Oh, it’s stands for Siesta Scripture Memory Team,” I was even more confused. What’s a Siesta? I thought. Doesn’t that mean “nap” in Spanish? Smile.
So if any of you are new to SSMT, I’m right there with you! Now I couldn’t be more on board with this simple, achievable way to sear God’s Word into our hearts and minds.
Do you have a section of Scripture that you find yourself referring back to all the time? Maybe you leave your little Bible bookmark there or the Lord keeps proving its relevance to you season after season. For me, it’s Hebrews 4:14-16:
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
These verses have ministered to me for years. They encouraged me through months of living in a foreign country. They motivated me to get back up and fight when temptation overcame me. They showed me how Jesus is so fully human, truly, He can relate to everything I feel. And they reminded me of my God-given dignity and confidence to approach His throne of grace (thank you JESUS!). I’ve read them so many times, I could give you a great paraphrasing, but I decided it was time to commit them to memory.
Stay strong, Siestas!
Moose Jaw, SK Canada
“I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
Psalms 57:2 ESV
Christa, Vancouver, WA
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”Psalm 55:22 ESV
Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever,
And the Lord God will wipe away tears
from all faces;
The rebuke of His people He will
take away from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken
emi, White House,tn: “which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…” Ephesians 1:8 ESV
Joyce Jones, Colleyville, TX, “If I go up to heaven, you are there, if I go down to the grave (Sheol) you are there.
Psalm 139:8 NLT
Leah Lacey, WA
So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV)
Ellen Hollenshead, Albuquerque, NM.
Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12, NKJV
Amber Darrow from Newnan, GA
“In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:6
Debi C., Wills Point, TX
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore He instructs sinners in his ways.
Psalm 25:8 NIV
Georgia from Bristow, OK:
I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (ESV)
Betty Reid Cypress, TX James1:12 NIV
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Carolyn, Dover Ohio
“I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”
Psalm 119:8 NIV
Stephanie, Irvine, CA
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is my strength and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26, NIV)
Charlotte Busbee from Concord, CA “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:7 NASB
Amy Storms
Joplin, MO
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12 NIV
Yvonne Gearing – Kingman, AZ
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 NLT
Rhonda Jackson of Godfrey, Il. – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Luke 6:22 KJV
From Ravendale, Calif:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another… Colossians 3:12, 13. NKJV
Lori Cauysn, Kenora, Ontario
For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:21 ESV
Brandy Trahan
Port Neches, Tx
“Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.”
Psalms 5:8 NLT
Barb * Willow Park, TX * 1 Peter 5:10 (NRSVCE) “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.”
Hi! Morgan from Kansas City “She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.” Proverbs 31:12-13 NIV
Kimberly, Chico, CA
Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16 KJV
Mary Ruth-Normal, IL: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
Brooke Gage, Highlands Ranch, CO
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Psalm 139:8 NIV
Charlotte Heisel Modesto CA
Psalms 62:8 (NLT)
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Kathi Griffin, Macon, GA:
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 1 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)
Deborah Johnson from Odessa, Texas “and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19 NIV
Beth Lewis, Story City, Iowa
“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
Psalm 139:8, NKJ
He must become greater; I must become less.”
jhn.3.30.NIV April from Kentucky
“Remember Your mercy, O LORD
And Your steadfast love,
For they have been from of old.”
Psalm 25:6 ESV
Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses,
But we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God.
Psalm 20:7 (NIV)
Micah 6:8. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
(NIV)
Three simple request! Why do we have such a hard time doing them?
Barbara Ordner, Tomball, TX
I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart…John 14:27 NLT
Ruth C. from Atlanta
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
Dawn, Orland Park, IL
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34b (NIV)
Jacquie Terada Mt Vernon WA
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. Isaiah 55:8 NLT
Billie, Greenville, KY “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:11 ESV
Linda, Buckeye, AZ
“The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.” Isaiah 50:4 (MSG)
Susan from Long Island New York
My memory verse is Colossians 3:12
Therefore as gods Holy people chosen and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassionkindness humility gentleness and patience
Wilmer, AL
John 17:21. NIV.
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Cora Suggs, Huntsville, AL 1st Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Jill from Laramie, WY
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5, New King James
Julia Posel, Munich, Germany. “You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right.” (Romans 14:22 NLT)
Kim, Fort Worth
“If I descend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”
Psalms 139:8
ESV
“As He spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with JOY when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:20 NLT
Nance from Newmarket ON Canada
“And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Rev 7:10
NLT
Joy Thompson, Fort Worth, TX – Psalm 139:8 – If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
Carol, Fort Worth, TX
But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
Narda
Memphis, Tn
Acts 2:38 ESV ” And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins , and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”